The six pieces in this little suite were written between 1893 and 1896. They were inspired by Hélène Bardac, the daughter of a singer with whom he was friends. The girl was born in 1892 and called “Dolly” on account of her small, delicate figure. The pieces, composed mainly for her birthday or the New Year, reflect the world as experienced by the growing child, from a lullaby to a temperamental dance. But it was not meant to be taken too seriously, as shown by the subtle allusions to his own music and that of others. Despite their simple basic structure these pieces, which soon became popular, contain numerous harmonic and rhythmic subtleties typical of the French composer – “children’s music” that is also well suited to adults.

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Preface

The extensive piano oeuvre of Gabriel Fauré (1845 – 1924) includes just two original compositions for piano duet: the Souvenirs de Bayreuth (1888), composed in collaboration with André ­Messager and published posthumously, and the ­six-movement Suite Dolly op. 56 (1893 – 96). The latter work is dedicated to Hélène Bardac (1892 – 1985), who when a girl … more

Critical Commentary

About the composer

Gabriel Fauré

Representative exponent of French music around 1900. His creative work is centered around the art song, piano music (nocturnes, barcarolles, impromptus, valse-caprice), and chamber music – alongside other genres.

1845

Born in Pamiers (Ariège) on May 12, the son of a primary school teacher.

After occupying various organist positions in Paris, he becomes assistant organist to Saint-Saëns at Saint-Sulpice. He numbers among the founding members of the Société nationale de musique. Performances of his works in their concerts.

1874

Premiere of his “Suite d’orchestre” in F major (“Symphony No. 1”), which is a compilation of existing pieces.

1875/76

Violin Sonata No. 1 in A major, Op. 13.

1876–79

Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15

1877

Maître de chapelle at Paris’s Église de la Madeleine.

1876/78

Premiere of his choral work “Les Djinns,” Op. 12.

from 1879

Attends performances of Wagner’s music; in his own compositions he distances himself from Wagner.

1885

Premiere of his Symphony No. 2 in D minor, later destroyed.

1887/88

Requiem, Op. 48.

1891

“Cinq Mélodies ‘de Venise’,” Op. 58, on texts by Verlaine.

1892–94

“La bonne chanson,” Op. 61, on texts by Verlaine.

1896

Successor to Dubois at the Madeleine. He conducts a composition class at the Paris Conservatoire.

1900

Premiere of the tragédie lyrique “Prométhée,” Op. 82.

1905–20

Director of the Conservatoire.

1909

President of the Société musicale indépendante.

1913

Premiere in Monte Carlo of his opera “Pénélope.”

1919

Song cycle, “Mirages,” Op. 113, with clear features of his modernist late style.

About the authors

Andreas Groethuysen (Fingering)

Prof. Andreas Groethuysen, born in 1956 in Munich, studied music with Ludwig Hoffmann in Munich and, on a scholarship from the “Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes”, with Peter Feuchtwanger in London.

After several years as a soloist, Groethuysen formed a piano duo with Yaara Tal, which has now become the focus of his artistic work. The duo regularly performs in many European countries, in Israel, China, North and South America. In exclusive cooperation with SONY CLASSICAL the internationally acclaimed piano duo has released a great many CDs – 28 to date – almost all of which have been awarded prizes.